Fyi Miami

DISTRICT 2 RERUN: Miami Commissioner Johnny Winton said Tuesday he had decided to run again as commissioner for District 2, which includes Coconut Grove, Brickell, parts of downtown, Wynwood, Edgewater and the Upper East Side. He was elected in November 1999 to a four-year term. Mr. Winton is president of WynCo Realty Partners in Miami and his business experience lies in acquisitions, property management, leasing, brokerage and asset management.

BOND ISSUE: Miami commissioners Tuesday voted to issue up to $160 million in bonds to fund public works, the first chunk of a $255 million bond program voters approved last November. City staff plans to start issuing bonds this month or early next. Another two rounds are scheduled over the next 10 years. City staff in May said they would issue $110 million to $125 million but due to low interest rates they got more.

INTERNATIONAL POST: Perry Ellis International announced in Miami Tuesday that Jack Voith has been promoted to executive vice president of sales for the company’s international division. With the appointment, Mr. Voith becomes responsible for sales and merchandising for such brands as Natural Issue, Munsingwear, Penguin Sport, John Henry, Cubavera, Grand Slam, Andrew Fezza and Crossings. "Jack is well respected at the senior management level in the apparel retail market," said Oscar Feldenkreis, Perry Ellis president & COO, "and has been instrumental in growing our business in the mid-tier segment." Mr. Voith is former vice president of sales for Arrow Shirt Co. and earlier in his career was with Phillips Van Heusen.

CHAMBER MISSION: The Central America-US Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise Florida and the Trade Mission Center of the Americas, with support of Miami-Dade County and CAMACOL Monday announced a trade mission from Aug. 11-17 with visits to Tegucigalpa in Honduras and Managua, Nicaragua. Plans call for briefings at US embassies, pre-qualified matchmaking appointments, luncheon presentations and networkers. Resource information packages are included. Cost is $895; $750 for members. Details: (305) 569-9113.

SMALL BUSINESS MATTERS: City of Miami Mayor Manny Diaz is joining the US Small Business Administration as host for a business assistance workshop in Little Haiti from 9 a.m.-noon July 15 in Miami Edison Senior High School, 6161 NW Fifth Court. The session is the result of a pact Mayor Diaz signed in February to work with the federal agency to make representatives for small firms in Miami aware of any assistance available. The free workshops eventually will be scheduled throughout the city, a spokesperson for the city said.

AXID COMPETITION: IVAX Corp. announced it got federal approval this week for nizatidine, which it manufactures in 150 and 300 mg capsules for the treatment of heartburn, acid indigestion and sour stomach. It is the general equivalent of the brand Axid, which is marketed by Eli Lilly & Co. Sales of Axid in the US last year were reported at about $233 million.

NORTHERN RATING: Fitch Ratings gave an A-plus to Florida Municipal Loan Council bonds for $70 million to help finance a North Miami Beach water project in an agreement where the municipality repays the loan through net water-system revenues. The bonds are to be sold the week of July 22. Upon completion of the project, which includes building additional wells, North Miami Beach officials said their city would reduce or eliminate its dependence on Miami-Dade County for water

SMALL BUSINESS MATTERS: City of Miami Mayor Manny Diaz is joining the US Small Business Administration as host for a business assistance workshop in Little Haiti from 9 a.m.-noon July 15 in Miami Edison Senior High School, 6161 NW Fifth Court. The session is the result of a pact Mayor Diaz signed in February to work with the federal agency to make representatives for small firms in Miami aware of any assistance available. The free workshops eventually will be scheduled throughout the city, a spokesperson for the city said

HEALTH TIES ABROAD: Miami’s global health and medical links will be the focus of Miami Today’s International Roundtable at a 7:30 a.m. July 11 breakfast in the 6th floor conference center of sponsoring Mercy Hospital, 3663 S Miami Ave. Panelists are Victoria Brewer-Anderson, executive director of Salud Miami; Michael Carricarte, president & CEO of Amedex Insurance Co.; Odelin Fernandez, senior vice president of Pharmed Group Corp., and Nancy Valenzuela, director for international services with Mercy Hospital. The session is free but reservations are required. Details: Techy Fernandez, (305) 358-2663.

OVERTOWN FUNDRAISER: Miami-Dade Community College and the St. John Community Development Corp. are holding a fundraising banquet, "Things are Cooking in Overtown", at 7:30 p.m. July 13 in Riverfront Hall, Hyatt Hotel, 400 SE Second Ave. The evening will start with a 6:30 p.m. silent auction of paintings by local artists, dinner for two at area restaurants and sports memorabilia. Cost is $40. Funds are to spur the revitalization of Overtown. Details: Cynthia Perry, (305) 372-0682.

FINANCING BOARD: The City of Miami Florida Economic Development Financing Authority – created almost a year ago to issue debt for housing, health facilities and special assessments – has yet to start operating. The seven-member board has not met and city officials said they do not know when it may. City Manager Carlos Gimenez said his assistant Robert Nachlinger was in charge of the authority but Mr. Gimenez had no explanation why the group yet to get together. Mr. Nachlinger could not be reached for comment.

GRAND DEVELOPMENT: Developer Gino Falsetto, a principal with The Grand & Associate Realty, Inc., said he is working on plans to build a 60-unit residential condominium building at 25th St. and Biscayne Bay. He said he expects to get design approval of the $16 million development in November. Apartments, some to be loft-style units, will sell from $300,000 to $600,000, Mr. Falsetto said. He said the 20-story building would sit on 0.5 acres of waterfront.

MAKING THE GRADE: Miami-Dade School Superintendent Merrett R. Stierheim will speak on "Making the Grade: A Plan for the Public School System" at 11:30 a.m. July 17 in the Sheraton Biscayne Bay Hotel, 495 Brickell Ave. The networking luncheon was organized by the Women’s Chamber of Commerce of Miami-Dade. Cost is $30; $25 for members with reservations. Details: (305) 446-6660.

HOSPICE ADDRESS: Hospice Foundation of America announced it is moving its Miami office on July 15 to Suite 505, 12000 Biscayne Blvd., North Miami. The company has been on 17th Street in Miami Beach. Details: (305) 981-2522 or fax, (305) 981-3390.